The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-05
Flowing Under Clover.

Correspondence Country Gentleman.
When live stock makes a comparatively higher
price than grain, it seems on first consideration
that it must be more profitable to turn the clover
into horses, beef, mutton, wool, butter or cheese
rather than pillow it under l have been more
than thirty years in America and have seen
how. very careful some farmers are in handling
their hay lest any should be wasted, as it is
called, by the cattle. ETC., when it gets under
their feet, or is scattered about by careless
workmen when feeding, but all the difference
between blowing clover under and littering hay
about SO that it is trodden into manure, is the
expense of making it into hay, hauling it to the
barn and applying the manure after that is
made. In the early part of this cen
fury l saw great deal OF good old.
fashioned farming in England. and had
the superintendence of large estate
from 1885 till 1850, and as long as l can remem-
Der, before taking charge of this domain clover
was considered to be as essential to the heavy
clay soil as roots to the lighter land. On
the light upland and sandy hills little clover
sown. excepting perennial mixed with rye-grass
and white clover. but on the clay land the an
nual red clover was sown in the six-course sys
tenn, which is general in nearly all the valleys.
Almost all the farmers these clay soils
NOV the clover twice-the fist time about the
last days in May or the first in June. and again
about the middle of August or earlier. accord
ing to the season. 1t is then plowed, and partic
uar pains taken to turn the burrows SO fiat that
by using a Skin" affixed to the coulter, or. in
some instances, to bar of iron from the BEAM
independent of the coulter, every atom of green
is thrown under the furrow. It is then rolled
with wheel or peg-roler, which firms the fur
row down, so that nothing is disturbed by the
harrows to show any bits of heritage. It is then
left to settle till a good rain comes, Immediately
after which, or as soon as the earth will not clog
the harrow tines, wheat is drilled.
My object in referring TO clover in England is
to say there great diversity of opinion
relative to the action of it the soil if grazed
made into hay; and to this day do not feel
ed al
with live stock lying in it all summer, and leav-
ing great quantities of droppings. should not
produce as good crop of wheat the following
year as if the clover had been moved twice and
no return to the soil made. Some said the shade
given by the dense mass of heritage had q favor
able influence, while others thought that the
roots of the clover penetrated deeper and
were altogether much thicker in
being continually eaten off. But it has
suggested to me that it would be interesting if.
some gentleman having fine piece of clover
would experiment this coming summer, by max
ing hay twice from one-third of it, and apply
nothing in return; by taking away the first cut
ting of second third, either as hay or green
fodder-for, of course, it does not matter to. the
land what is done with the crop-and the pillow
third; and by grazing the last third with cattle,
and sheep, it convenient, from spring till
autumn. till time to pillow and plant wheat. Then
cultivate all three parts in a workmau-like man
uor, anu Orll Tue same Jay, Ors IL LOO uucu LOT
one day. drill right across so that there shall be
debut of tie fairness Of the experiment
Agriculture is in its infancy in many respects,
though it is progressing very fast. / think
clover is too good forage crop to pillow under.
and as it is very nutritious. particularly SO
when in full bloom. and fed when little wilted.
it is exceedingly valuable to give to dairy cows
when their pasture begins to get short helping
them to keep up full flow of milk and also
assisting the pasture TO escape being grazed
down too bare. | recollect an extraordinary
dry summer about the year 1886 or 81. when a
fine lowland field of clover. some trfolium and
extra quantity of vetches. saved me from
any loss in the condition of the live stock; and
gave mo an overflow of milk. besides saving me
from turning the sheep, etc, into some of the
meadows Intended for hay. as many Of my
neighbors had to do Depend upon it the soil
ing of cattle and sheep. and dairy cows especi-
ally. will be partially practiced the Atlantic
States, and soon, for corn and grain can be had
from the West at less cost than growing them
here, when clover will be valued too highly to
plow under.